Self-assembled amphiphilic polyhedral oligosilsesquioxane (POSS) grafted poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) nanoparticles

In the present study, spherical nanoparticles (NPs) containing polyhedral oligosilsesquioxane (POSS) as an inner hydrophobic core and poly(vinyl alcohol) PVA as a hydrophilic outer shell were prepared by dialysis approach. Preparation of amphiphilic POSS-grafted-PVA co-polymer was characterized by 1H NMR and FT-IR. The results indicated urethane linkage between monoisocyanate group of POSS macromer and the hydroxyl groups of PVA. The dynamic light scattering (DLS) and electrophoretic light scattering (ELS) of the NPs revealed that they have an average hydrodynamic diameter and negative zeta (ζ)-potential of 215 nm and − 161 mV, respectively. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and bio-transmission electron microscope (BIO-TEM) have shown unagglomerated NPs within a diameter range of 60–90 nm. The prepared NPs were investigated to improve the control release of anticancer drug; paclitaxel as a model drug. Due to drug loading, the hydrodynamic diameter and negative zeta (ζ)-potential have changed to 325 nm and − 14 mV, respectively. In addition, in-vitro drug release experiments were conducted; the obtained results explicated continuous release for over 40 days. However, in case of using pure drug only, the drug completely released within 1 h.